Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND001 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 271774
Title: Dorothy M. Polson
Date: 2/14/1935-9/7/2025
Creator:
Inscription/Marks: 2/14/1935
Summary: Dorothy Mae Polson passed away September 7, 2025, at Bethel Lutheran Nursing Home, Williston, ND, under the care of hospice. Her funeral service was held September 15, 2025, at Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church in Williston. Burial was in Hillside Memory Garden Cemetery in Williston. Dorothy was born on February 14, 1935, to Arthur and Ethel (Willard) Jackman at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Williston. She was raised on the farm north of Lund’s Landing locally known as Hungry Gulch. She often talked about all of the chores she had to do, since she was an only child. She was educated in the early years in the small country school and graduated in 1952 from Wheelock High School. She was a good student and while finishing high school was also working on a two-year general business correspondence course from Fargo. She worked at the local creamery and various other jobs around Williston. She married the love of her life, Donald Polson, on May 6, 1955, at Concordia Lutheran Church, Williston. He adored her and cherished her. They celebrated 65 years together in May of 2020. She stayed home to raise her children, Donnette, Doyle and Dorvan, until the youngest started school. She re-entered the work force in the loan department at American State Bank, where she learned a lot and enjoyed her position. She moved on to be a bookkeeper at Triangle Electric. She then helped Donnette establish the weekly shopper called “This Week.” When that business was sold, she decided to get her real estate license and then broker license. She and Don owned and worked together in D & D Realty for many years. Dorothy and Don worked tirelessly doing Lions work. They were very passionate and very proud of their honors. Dorothy was one of the first women district governors for Lions Club, from 1997 to 1998. They greatly enjoyed being able to visit all of the area Lions clubs when they were district governors. Through their Lions activities, they made many life-long friends whom they treasured. They loved the opportunities to travel to International Lions Conventions as well as many district conventions. She was proud and honored to be a Melvin Jones Fellow. Dorothy was also inducted into the North Dakota Lions Hall of Fame in 2006 and was honored in July of 2024 at the 90th Anniversary Celebration of the Williston Lions Club. Dorothy always felt very blessed for the opportunities they had to travel, not only with Lions but also with Don’s job as member service director for Williams Electric to state and national REC conventions and more to visit their children in other states and countries. They escorted a grandchild to Venezuela to visit his dad one year. They also loved to follow the sporting events of their children, and then grandchildren, and then great-grandchildren. Dorothy loved her sports, hockey and baseball were her favorites. One of their most memorable events was to the Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena, CA. Don and Dorothy enjoyed dating and dancing; in the early years they square danced and took their children along dressed up in matching outfits. In later years, they were waltzing if they had the opportunity. They spent most Friday evenings at Pizza Hut enjoying pizza and beer. Dorothy was often heading to a church meeting. She served on several committees and boards, including the women’s group, and, of course, in the church kitchens. At the time of her passing, she was a member of Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church. Dorothy is survived by her daughter, Donnette (Doug) Taylor, Williston; her sons, Doyle (Susan) Polson, Ft. Myers, FL, and Dorvan (Karen) Polson, Bozeman, MT; seven grandchildren, Katie (Russ) Wyman, Perry Taylor, Brandee (Anhthi) Tran, Devin Polson, Sean (Tamlyn) Polson, Trevor (Alexandria) Polson and Tiffany Polson. She was so proud of her ten great-grandchildren, Jeten, Paisley, Maverick, Audrey, Samuel, Brendan, Logan, Tayven, Alec, and Kyler. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Donald; her parents, Arthur and Ethel Jackman; her maternal grandparents, Carl and Grace Willard; and her paternal grandparents, Pete and Carrie Jackman.
Red ID: FND_I_79269 Image ID: 537185 Image Notes: FND001 271774

Collection: FND001 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Date: -

Summary: The North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program is sponsored by the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association. The life stories of deceased North Dakotans are featured in an archvied collection. Current partners in the project are Eastgate Funeral & Cremation Services, Bismarck Evans Funeral Homes, Carrington and New Rockford Everson-Coughlin Funeral Home, Williston Fulkerson Funeral Home, Tioga Fulkerson Funeral Home, Watford City Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home, Williston Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck Springan Stevenson Funeral Home, Stanley Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson These funeral homes provide recent obituaries to the Foundation, where staff and volunteers format, edit and archive each memorial. The memorials are posted, and copies are sent to the family for their input and approval. The listing currently features more than 13,000 memorials, and is constantly updated as new memorials and histories are received.

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